Are you ready for eternity? . . .

Matthew 25:1-13: Then shall the kingdom of Heaven be likened to ten Virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the Bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

While the Bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the Bridegroom comes; go out to meet Him.

Then all those Virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, give us some of your oil; for our lamps have gone out. But the wise answered, saying, No, there may not be enough for us and you: but you go to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.

And while they went to buy, the Bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with Him to the Marriage: and the Door was shut. Afterwards the other Virgins came, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say to you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man comes.

The Bridegroom Represents ChristThere is no mistaking who the Bridegroom is, for He clearly represents Christ. The ten virgins represent Christ’s Church, and the portrayal is the final event that occurs at the very Coming of the Lord.

Matthew 9:15: And Jesus said to them, Can the children of the bride chamber mourn, as long as the Bridegroom is with them?

John 3:29: He (Christ) that has the bride is the Bridegroom: but the friend (John the Baptist) of the Bridegroom, which stands and hears Him, rejoices greatly because of the Bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.

Revelation 19:7: Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to Him (Christ): for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife (the Bride) has made herself ready.

The Ten Virgins represent All True Believers in Christ

The term "ten virgins" must be understood to include all true believers in Christ, because the Lord called all ten of them virgins, and showed that even the foolish virgins had some oil at the beginning because they said, “our lamps have gone out,” this portrays that all ten were Christians.

The ten virgins all went forth to meet the Bridegroom, so this shows they all were looking forward to the return of the Bridegroom. The term "virgins" has a distinctive application in the Scriptures.

Paul speaks of the believer as "a chaste virgin" separated unto Christ.2 Corinthians 11: 2: I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

John also used the word virgins to designate the Firstfruits to God in whom there is no guile (deceit / lie).Revelation 14:4-5: These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These were redeemed from among men, being the Firstfruits to God and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no guile (deceit ): for they are without fault before the throne of God.

The Scriptures show us that a virgin represents a believer who has separated them self from the world. It does not have reference to male or female or to the married state as such. A "'Virgin" as the term is symbolically used in the Scriptures is a follower of Christ who is not defiled with spiritual fornication or adultery such as James alludes to. Professing Christians who flirt with the world are guilty of spiritual harlotry and cannot be considered to be "a Virgin" in the scriptural sense.Psalm 32:2: Blessed is the man to whom the LORD imputes no iniquity (sin), and in whose spirit there is no guile (deceit).

Psalm 45 portrays a scene of Christ Coming forth to meet His Bride.

Psalm 45:13-14:The king's daughter is all glorious within: her clothing is of wrought gold. She shall be brought to the king in raiment of needlework: the Virgins her companions that follow hershall be brought to thee.

The Lamp is God's Word That Lights Our Path

Matthew 25:1: Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto Ten Virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.

The virgins took their lamps and went forth to meet the Bridegroom. It was the lamp, God’s Word, that gave them the Light to be able to go out into the darkness of the night to meet the Bridegroom. The Word of God enables us to know and understand the glorious truth of the nearness of the Coming of Christ.

Mark 13:29:The Lord’s Coming is Near, Even at the Doors.

Psalm 119:105-106 & 115: Your Word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path.

Matthew 13:23: He that hears the Word, and understands it; is he that also bears fruit…

Symbolically . . .The Word, Jesus, Became the Light of the World

John 1:1, 4-7:In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. In Him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shined in the darkness (the world). John came to bear witness of the Light that all men through Him might believe.It is because of Jesus the Light which came to all men that we too can also bear witness to that Light and be a light in this dark world.

Matthew 5:14: You are the light of the world, like a city that is set on a hill that cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel (basket), but (they put it) on a candlestick; and it gives light to all that are in the house.

Matthew 5:16: Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

John 8:12: Jesus spoke again to them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

Until this point the ten virgins appear as one united band sharing the same expectations and having a common interest in the same event. But a difference appears, that is visible in the preparations that were made. Five were wise and five were foolish. In the case of five, their preparations were inadequate.

The Oil is the Symbol for the Holy Spirit

Although all ten of the Virgins carried a lamp, only half of them carried a store of sufficient oil along with them so they could replenish their lamp during the long night watches.

Matthew 25:3 & 8: They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them… And the foolish said to the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.

We know that the five foolish virgins had oil to begin with, or else they would not have said, “Our lamps are (have) gone out.” For a lamp to go out, it had to be lit in the first place.

Oil is symbolic of the Holy Spirit of God, indicating anointing for service. It is the oil that keeps the lights bright. It is the oil that causes the good works. God intends His people to be anointed with that oil, even as Christ was anointed.

Jesus received His baptism of the Spirit at the river Jordan. Being full of the Spirit, He was led by the Spirit to be tempted in the wilderness. When the temptations were finished He returned in the power of the Spirit, and began His ministry.

Luke 3:21-22: When all the people were baptized, Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, You are my beloved Son; in you I am well pleased.

Luke 4:1: Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,

Luke 4:14: Jesus returned in the Power of the Spirit to Galilee.

Luke 4: 18: The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He hath anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He hath sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised.

1 John 2:27: But the anointing (Holy Spirit) which you have received of Him abides in you.

The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is increasingly evident in a Christian as we allow the Holy Spirit to lead us in our daily walk with the Lord.

As previously mentioned, all ten Virgins had some oil (which represents the Holy Spirit) in their lamps at the beginning, for lamps will not burn at all without some oil. Neither can lamps go out as mentioned in Verse 8 unless they have first been burning. And certainly the Virgins would not have ventured out into the darkness of the night if their lamps were not burning at all.

Where then was the difference between the wise Virgins and the foolish Virgins? We are told plainly that the foolish "took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps." In this their wisdom was displayed.

James 1:5: If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God … and it shall be given him.

Paul tells us we carry this treasure in earthen vessels, our bodies, and God has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus. With this light shining in our hearts, but since we are like fragile clay jars it is clear that our great power is from God and not from ourselves.

2 Corinthians 4:6-7: For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, has shined in our hearts, to give (us) the light of knowledge of the glory of God (that shines) in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the Excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

Every believer has a measure of the Holy Spirit. The Apostle Paul said we are not to be controlled by our sinful nature, but controlled by the Spirit of God who dwells in us.

Romans 8:9: But you are not in the flesh, but (you are) in the Spirit, if the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if any man does not have the Spirit of Christ, then he is none of His.

1 Corinthians 12:3: No man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.

There are measures of the Holy Spirit, but Christ received the Spirit without measure.

John 3:34-35: For He whom God has sent speaks the Words of God: for God gave the Spirit without measure to him. The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand.

It is Christ's purpose that we should receive the fullness of the Spirit as rivers of living water:John 7:37-39: Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come to Me, and drink. He that believes on Me, as the scripture has said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spoke He of the Spirit, which they that believe on Him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

Although the disciples had received the Holy Spirit by measure, they were to receive the mighty baptism of the Holy Ghost as promised by Jesus. After the Day of Pentecost the apostles were insistent that all believers should receive the baptism of the Spirit. The Spirit would not only be with them, but would dwell in them.

John 14:16-17 & 26: (Jesus said) I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you forever; Even the Spirit of truth; ... you know Him; for He dwells with you, and shall be in you. The Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatever I have said to you.

John 20:22: He breathed on them, and said to them, Receive you the Holy Ghost.

Acts 1:4-5: Being assembled together with them, (Jesus) commanded that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, He said, you have heard of Me. For John truly baptized with water; but you shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days from now.

Acts 8:14-17: Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) Then they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.

Acts 19:1-6: And it came to pass, that, Paul… finding certain disciples, He said to them, Have you received the Holy Ghost since you believed? And they said to him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. And he said to them, Unto what then were you baptized? And they said, John's baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying to the people, that they should believe on Him who should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spoke with tongues, and prophesied.

Luke 11:13: If you… know how to give good gifts to your children: how much more shall your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him?

The Foolish Virgins Lacked the Fullness of the Spirit

All Christians have the Word of God and have a measure of the Oil of the Holy Spirit, for we know no man can say Jesus is Lord save by the Spirit, but this is different from being filled with the Spirit and many have never prayed for the fullness of the anointing of the Holy Spirit to fill them. Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Ghost. To fulfill God's purpose in our lives and to be ready to meet the Bridegroom, we need to be filled with the Holy Ghost.

1 Corinthians 12:3: Wherefore I give you to understand . . . that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.

Matthew 25:3-4: The… foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

1 Corinthians 6:19: Know you not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which you have of God, and you are not your own?

While the Bridegroom Tarried, They Slept

We are told that the Bridegroom delayed His coming for His Bride. Because He had delayed, they all slept and were not watchful. They were really not anticipating the soon coming of the Lord.

Matthew 25:5: While the Bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.

The parable informs us that there was an unexpected delay. The group of maidens had gone a considerable distance to a prearranged gathering place where they were to wait for a signal of the Bridegroom's approach. But as the night advanced and the ordinary time of repose had passed, conversation began to lag and drowsiness set in. Finally the Virgins slumbered and slept.

The introduction of the element of sleep suggests an interval of time in which apparently the Bridegroom delayed His coming. It also suggests that because of the long delay, many who watched for His Coming, would fall asleep in Jesus.

There is a Spiritual Sleep, however, that Paul Warns us against.

1 Thessalonians 5:6: Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.

Romans 13:11: It is high time to awake out of sleep (arouse yourself): for now is our salvation (His Coming) nearer than when we believed.

Sleep speaks of inactivity. When people are asleep they are unconscious of what is going on around them. Danger may be nearby, but they are unaware of it. The house may be on fire, endangering their whole family; but when people are sleeping, they know nothing of it.

The sleep of the Virgins perhaps indicates other things. It illustrates the abandonment of the Church in the middle centuries to the hope of the Second Coming. For a time the Early Church, like the ten virgins, was in eager expectation of the Lord's return. Slowly the Church lost that hope. Due to the long delay of the return of the Lord, the truth of the Lord's coming was gradually forgotten. Along with the waning of that hope was a decline of spiritual life in the Church. Christians became indifferent and apathetic.

But . . .

Suddenly at Midnight a Cry was Made

Matthew 25:6-7: And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the Bridegroom is coming; go out to meet Him. Then all the Virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.

The cry went forth throughout the entire church world when Israel became a Nation again on May 14, 1948. Suddenly the Church awoke to the great truth of the Lord’s Second Coming. Ministers began to preach in earnest about how Israel is God’s timepiece in Bible prophecy, and began to explain how the prophecies foretold that the generation that saw Israel become a Nation again would be the generation that would see all things fulfilled, right up to the setting up of the Reign of Christ on earth.

Christians around the World became excited anticipating the Lord’s soon arrival. Just as in the parable where the virgins arose and trimmed their lamps, the Church arose and began to trim their lamps. As the Holy Spirit gave understanding, Christians began to read and search their Bibles to find the many prophecies within God’s Word.

Consider the following verses again…

Psalm 119:105: Your Word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path.

Psalm 119:130: Your Words give light and understanding.

Matthew 13:23: He that hears the Word, and understands it; also bears fruit.

The warning to Watch is in the last verse of the parable.

Matthew 25:13: Watch for you know neither the day nor the hour when the Son of man will come.

John 5:39: Search the Scriptures; for in them you think you have eternal life: and it is they which testify of Me."

1 John 2:27-28: But the Anointing [Holy Spirit] which you have received of Him abides in you, and you need not that any man teach you: but the same Anointing [Holy Spirit] teaches you of all things . . . and even as it has taught you, you shall abide in Him. And . . . when He [Jesus] shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before Him at His coming."

John 16:13: When He, the [Holy] Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth ... and He will show you things to come."

2 Timothy 2:15: Study to show yourself approved to God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly (accurately) dividing (understanding) the Word of truth."

Hebrews 5:12: (By this time) You ought to be teachers, but you have need that someone teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you . . . have need of milk, and not strong meat.

Hosea 4:6 "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge."

There are Four Periods of Time Suggested by the Parable1.There was the first period when the Ten Virgins readied their lamps and went forth to meet the Bridegroom. This answers to the period of the Early Church. Christians in that day eagerly looked forward to the return of Christ. It was a time in which the Church was alert and active in the work of their Lord.

2. Then during the second period of time in the Middle Centuries, because of the Bridegroom's delay, the Virgins who were weary with watching fell into a deep slumber and slept. During this time the Church became only dimly aware of the hope of Christ's Second Coming. It was a period of moral and spiritual apathy in the Church.

3. Then came the Midnight Hour, when Israel became a Nation again in 1948, which began the third watch. The virgins were awakened with the cry, "Behold, the Bridegroom comes: go out to meet him." With this awakening cry the Christians arose and began to trim their lamps. There never has been a time when there has been such a heralding of the message of the “Second Coming” throughout the earth.

4.Suddenly there came the moment when the Bridegroom actually came, which answers to the fourth watch. We are in that period now. The countdown of the final seconds has started. The nearness of His coming is changing from imminent to immediacy!

We read early on in the story that half of the Virgins were wise, and half were foolish. Their wisdom (or lack of wisdom) was in relation to their preparedness. Each knew what would be needed for the night’s festivities: oil. The Virgins without oil were never regarded as bad, but as foolish.

Not good and bad, not righteous and wicked, but simply wise and foolish. That is, all of them have accepted the invitation to meet the Bridegroom; all are Christians.

Having all received invitations to the marriage celebration, they each fully expected that they would be allowed into the wedding. They all thought they were ready. Outwardly, they all appeared prepared. Indeed, the foolish Virgins believed that they were entitled to enter in with the bridegroom. Having received an invitation and made the effort to await His arrival, they thought all was well.

Matthew 25:7-9: Then all those Virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, give us some of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, No, there may not be enough for us and you: but you go to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.

With the cry, all the Virgins arose and began trimming their lamps. It was at this moment that the folly of the five foolish Virgins became evident. They turned to their companions, to see if they were able to lend them some oil, but their appeal was in vain. Spiritual preparedness cannot be shared . . . This was not selfishness or unkindness, the oil of the Holy Spirit that is needed is not shareable by one Christian being able to give it to another Christian . . . But we only need to ask the Lord, and He will freely give it to any sincere believer. As stated previously in Luke.

Luke 11:13: If you… know how to give good gifts to your children: how much more shall your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him?

The Bridegroom Came

Matthew 25:10-12: The Bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with Him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterwards the other Virgins came, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he said, Verily I say to you, I know you not.

One thing this part of the parable teaches seems very clear. There will be great astonishment among a certain part of the Church at the Coming of Christ.

We do not mean those who deny His coming altogether, but those who truly look for His corning, who will have a terrible realization that they are unprepared to meet the Bridegroom. They have indeed looked forward to the event, and now the awful truth comes to them that they are not ready. What is wrong? They do not have oil in their vessels with their lamps. In the parable they were advised to go to them that sold oil, and obtain a supply.

James 4:2-3: You have not, because you have not asked.

Luke 11:13: If you… know how to give good gifts to your children: how much more shall your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him?

The foolish virgins had not prepared for the midnight hour. They were in a state of high anxiety because their lamps had gone out. They were unable to go on. But the lamps of the wise were burning brightly. The wise virgins were all set. They were ready to go out to meet the Bridegroom.The question may be asked whether it is possible to "buy" the Holy Spirit? We must remember that this parable and other parables use the expression of buying and selling, such as in the Parable of the Merchantman and His Pearls. In a certain sense we are told to "buy the truth and sell it not."

Indeed the Lord has instructed the lukewarm Laodicean church to "buy of me gold tried in the fire" and "white raiment."

Revelation 3:18: I counsel you to buy from me gold tried in the fire, that you may be rich; and white raiment, that you may be clothed, so that the shame of your nakedness does not appear; and anoint your eyes with eyesalve (Study God’s Word), that you may see.

Gold tried in the fireJesus counsels the Laodiceans “to buy” a certain kind of “gold,” a “refined” gold of character that comes from the fires of testing. The true gold of character comes from Jesus. This is not a monetary transaction but a spiritual transaction. We all need true spiritual gold which will stand the test of the Bema Seat of Christ.

White RaimentIsaiah 61:10: I will greatly rejoice in the LORD . . . for He has clothed me with the Garments of Salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness."Revelation 16:15 “Blessed is he that . . . keeps his garments [of righteousness], lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.

Anoint your eyes with eyesalve, God's WordThe "Word of God" brings the illuminating work of the Holy Spirit which convinces of sin. We need the illumination of the Holy Spirit so we can see our spiritual condition accurately.In the matter of actual dollars, of course the Holy Spirit cannot be bought.

Acts 8:20: Peter said to him, Your money perish with you, because you have thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money.

Yet, in a sense the treasures of God must be purchased at a price, at a sacrifice. Jesus said…

Matthew 16:24: If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

Matthew 25:10-13: The Bridegroom came . . . the door was shut. Afterward the other Virgins came, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say to you, I know you not. Watchtherefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of man comes.

In the meantime, the foolish Virgins had gone to those who sold and replenished their oil supply. While they were gone the Bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in for the marriage and the door was shut. When the foolish Virgins finally arrived, they knocked on the door and said, "Lord, Lord, open to us."

But the shutting of the door has a solemn significance. It means that a substantial number of Christians who are looking forward to the coming of the Lord, and who are anticipating the joy of the marriage, are going to be left out.

What bitter thoughts of remorse must have overtaken the foolish Virgins! There were those long hours while the Bridegroom delayed, when they could have made good their oversight. But they had permitted the golden opportunity to pass them by, and this apparently is the picture of a large part of professing Christians who are simply letting the hours pass by. They are distracted with the cares of this life.

Notice, the Bridegroom said to them, "I know you not." That is, at this time, I cannot recognize you as a member of my Bridal party.They had missed God's best. Bitter tears will not change the fact.

Christ did not say, "I never knew you," as he did to the workers of iniquity (wickedness) in this verse…

Matthew 7:21-23: Not every one that says to Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of My Father which is in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name? And in Your name have cast out devils? And in Your name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess to them, I never knew you: depart from Me, you that work iniquity (wickedness).

Many ministries are teaching that everyone who is saved will go in the Rapture. The Scriptures, however, teach just the opposite!

Christ Warns His Church to take heed, watch, pray, be sober, abide in Him, look for Him, keep their spiritual garments of salvation and righteousness. Christ is coming for the saints who have kept themselves from the things of the world, and once the Rapture has taken place, the Lord will shut the door.

Luke 21: 36: Watch, and pray always, that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

Luke 13:25: When once the Master of the house is risen up, and has shut the door, and you begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us; and He shall answer and say to you, I know you not…

Matthew 7:21: Not every one that says to Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of Heaven; but he that does the will of My Father who is in Heaven.

Matthew 24:40-42: Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Watch therefore: for you know not what hour your Lord does come.

Notice, the two who are in the field and at the mill are both His Servants, Christians, they both know their Lord will return! They both are busy doing their Lord’s work… but only one was ready. You can be doing good works for the Lord and still not be spiritually ready.

Luke 12:45-47: If that servant says in his heart, My Lord delays His coming… The Lord of that servant will come in a day when he looks not for Him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and… will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. And that servant, who knew His Lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to His will, shall be beaten. (Matthew 24:51: adds that there will be weeping.)

Jesus was talking to Christians when He said He would, “appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.” He was warning the Christians that they could be in danger of being left to endure the Tribulation with the unbelievers. Jesus would not have said this if the servant were an unbeliever, because an unbeliever would have expected to be left!

The Bride of Christ, the Firstfruits to God

Many are Called, but Few are ChosenIn a certain sense, the whole Church is the body of Christ. But, there is a group within the group that makes up the Bride of Christ, the Firstfruits to God.

As Rev. Lance Lambert said in his sermon, “The Bride of Christ”, we see into the heart of the Apostle Paul, and we understand . . . something of the Heavenly vision that in one sense obsessed Paul. From the moment God gave him that vision of the goal, of the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus, he couldn’t be the same. (Once Paul understood that God was selecting a Queen for King Jesus) He was spoiled for anything less!

Matthew 20:16 & 22:14: The last shall be first, and the first last: for many are called, but few are chosen.

Revelation 14:4: These are they who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed (chosen) fromamongmen, being the Firstfruits to God and to the Lamb.

Revelation 17:14: He is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

Revelation 19:7: The marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.

Saved by Grace, but “made ready” by obeying all His commandments and following after Him and His great commission to “Go” and invite everyone to come to Him!

Mark 16:15: Jesus said, Go into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

Luke 9:23: Take up your cross daily, and follow me.

1 Corinthians 7:29: The time is short: ... both they that have wives (or husbands should) be as though they had none.

2 Timothy 2:3-4: No one engaged in (spiritual) warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, so that he may please Him who has chosen him.

The Wise Virgins are Bridesmaids

It is hardly appropriate that the Bride be occupied with all the little cares of this life at the time of her wedding! She was waiting expectantly. The Bride is alert and discerning, ever watching for the Bridegroom, with her light shining brightly, she was following all His commandments so she would not be ashamed before Him when He arrived. She was making sure her garments were altered to fit, cutting out anything in her life that would be displeasing to the Bridegroom. With her love for the lost, she was doing for others with a giving heart, and was busy reaching out to tell others about Christ, and inviting everyone to come to the wedding!

Until the Rapture takes place, any Christian (Male or Female) can strive to be in this called out group. The door is open, but once the Rapture takes place, the door will be shut, and a large remnant of Christians will have to endure the Tribulation that will then come upon the entire World to try them and test them to see if they will choose to live for Christ, even to their death. Those who do not deny Christ during this terrible time will be saved! How sad to make Heaven your home, only to find that you missed out on God’s best for you. Millions of Christians and Jews will be killed during the tribulation for their belief in Jesus. It will eventually become so bad, that the Bible says blessed are those who die in the Lord from that point in time, because the moment they die for not denying Christ, they will immediately be in Heaven.

When at long last the Bridegroom and His party were heard approaching in the distance, it was the Brides voice that cried, "Behold, the Bridegroom is Coming; go out to meet him."

The Bridegroom, The Bride, and The Virgins

We made a previous reference to Psalm 45 in which the Bridegroom, the Bride, and the Virgins are seen. Notice Verse 10 and what follows. It is the call of the Bride. She was brought to the King, and it was "the Virgins her Companions that follow her."

Psalm 45:6-7: Thy throne, O God [God the Son], is forever and ever: the Scepter [Royal Rod] of Your kingdom is a right Scepter [Scepter of Righteousness]. You love righteousness, and hate wickedness: Therefore God, Thy God [Your Father], has anointed You [King Jesus] with the oil of gladness above Your fellows.

Psalm 45:8-9: All Your garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory palaces, whereby they have made You glad. Kings' daughters were among Your honorable women: upon Your right hand did stand the Queen [The Bride] in Gold of Ophir. The Bride of Christ is now called the Queen.

Psalm 45:10-11: Hearken [listen], O daughter, and consider, and incline your ear; forget also your own people, and your father's house; So shall the King [Jesus] greatly desire your beauty: because He is Your Lord; and worship thou Him. This is the call to all Christians to leave all behind and strive to win the prize to be included in the Bride.Psalm 45:13-15: The King's daughter (God is our Father) is all glorious within: her clothing is of wrought Gold. She [the Queen / Bride] shall be brought unto the King [Jesus] in raiment of needlework: the Virgins her companions that follow her shall be brought unto Thee (also). With gladness and rejoicing shall they be brought: they shall enter into the King's palace. The Bride now as the Queen is brought to King Jesus, and the other Virgins, the Christians who did not hearken to the “Call for the Bride”, follow her into the palace.

Psalm 45:16-17: They shall be Your children [sons and daughters], whom You [God] may [shall] make Princes [Rulers] in all the Earth. I [God] will make Your name [Jesus] to be remembered in all generations: therefore shall the people praise You forever and ever.

Revelation 19:7-9: Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to Him: for the Marriage of the Lamb has come, and His Wife has made Herself ready. (The bride is responsible for making herself ready.) And to Her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness (acts) of Saints . . . Blessed are they who are called to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.

Notice from the verse above that the Bride [Men and Women] are arrayed in fine linen, clean and white for the Marriage and then in Psalm 45, where they are portrayed as the Queen, their clothing is of wrought Gold of Ophir made in raiment of needlework.

Song of Solomon 2:9-10: My beloved (Christ)… stands… He looks forth at the windows, showing Himself through the lattice. My beloved (Christ) spoke, and said to me (the Bride), Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away (the Rapture, ingathering of the first fruits).

Song of Solomon 4:7: You are fair, my love (the Bride); there is no spot in you.

Song of Solomon 6:3, 9: I am my beloved's, and my beloved is mine… There are sixty queens, and eighty concubines, and Virgins (Christians) without number . . .My undefiled (the Bride) is but one… The daughters saw her, and blessed her; yes, the queens and the concubines, and they praised her.

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The arithmetic of this parable is disturbing. This presents the seriousness of how many are unprepared. Fifty percent of Christians are not prepared for the Rapture!

Luke 18:8: When the Son of man comes, will He find faith on the earth?

The parable of the Ten Virgins has a very powerful message.It carries a profound and unforgettable Warning for us all.Let us draw near to God in prayer,

And in carrying out His great commission to reach the lost.Let us trim our lamps, keep our light burning, and be ready for His Return.And let us Seek the Oil and the Fullness of His Holy Spirit now.

Only the continual presence of God's Spirit in our life

can keep the fire burning through the dark nights.

The Parable of the Ten Virgins

King Jesus Talking With His Bride

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